Just sign here, Blessed" her adopted mother said, her voice laced with an unusual sweetness that made the hairs on Blessed's arms prickle. She guided Blessed's small hand; her own fingers surprisingly firm, as the girl awkwardly wrote her name on the official-looking document. "It's for your school records, you know. Just a simple formality."
Blessed squinted at the paper, the unfamiliar characters blurring together .School records? She rarely attended,
"I'm going to school for real this no more dropping out" she exclaimed
" Yes you won't be busy anymore , so we decided to send you to school in the village were your Grandma Jane will take care of you " Maria was happy that Blessed signed the document for transfer of ownership two day ago she went to the lawyer to request her son's name to be written as the owner but the lawyer refused and insisted it's should be Blessed's name that was what the young master wanted so she had to bring her yesterday to sign her name before going to another lawyer who helped her with the document for transfer of ownership.
This sudden interest in her schooling felt… off. But she didn't voice her confusion.
Questioning her adopted parents usually led to a sharp reprimand. But she was confused because she have signed a lot document in the span of two days was is it that difficult to go to school too much paper work when she finished signing the document. Her adopted mother snatched the paper away quickly, a strange glint in her eyes that Blessed couldn't decipher.
The following days were a whirlwind of hushed whispers and forced cheerfulness. Her adopted parents moved with a newfound energy, their usual bickering replaced by an unsettlingly harmonious murmur. "City A!" her adopted father exclaimed one evening, his arm slung around her adopted mother's shoulders, a rare display of affection. "A city of opportunity! A brand new chapter for us!"
Their son, who was normally glued to his game stop and was always on the internet trying to imitate the lifestyle of the rich because he didn't want to be called a boy from the country side so he had to blend and have the aura of a rich young master . Blessed , who was observing all this was feeling uncomfortable as if she has lost something that belongs to her, the happiness flowing did not get to her because she was alone in her own world. She was used to being an afterthought. But she consoled herself that she was going to school that all that matters.
Few weeks later she helped her parents and brother in sorting their belongings. Her adopted mother meticulously separated their clothes, telling her to put the new items into suitcases, and the older, worn ones forming a small pile for Blessed. When Blessed hesitantly asked about her own packing, her adopted mother's smile tightened, the sweetness from before vanishing.
"Now, Blessed," she said, her tone laced with a practiced patience that never quite reached her eyes, "City A is a very different place. It's crowded, fast-paced… not really suitable for a young girl your age just yet."
"But… I can help with chores," Blessed offered quietly, the words barely a whisper.
Her adopted father who just walked in chuckled, a booming sound that felt forced. "Don't be silly, child. You're much better off staying in the village. It's peaceful, you know the people in the city are greedy and dangerous your mother and I got a new job and your brother will be attending school in the capital the resources are limited not enough for an extra mouth I hope you will understand." He clapped her awkwardly on the shoulder, his touch fleeting and insincere. "We'll get you settled here, and once you're a bit older, closer to sixteen, we'll send for you. It's all for the best, you see."
"But I don't eat much father, I can help with anything, you won't even notice my presence I don't mind staying at home not going to school. I promise I won't be a burden help me beg mother to allow me go with you to the city "she knelt and cried holding onto her father's trousers not letting go
Seeing her tears Greg felt guilty knowing everything they are about to enjoy was because of her but he couldn't refuse his wife. And his son is more important than her, he was still helping her they were not totally abandoning her she will be enrolled in the school at the village and she will join them when everything died down.
The explanation felt flimsy, riddled with holes Blessed couldn't quite articulate and why the strange insistence on her staying behind? The pieces didn't fit, but she lacked the experience to understand the larger picture. She only felt the familiar sting of being excluded, amplified by a growing sense of unease. They just didn't want her, she was supposed to be used to this by now but she couldn't she felt abandoned. All her pleas fell on deaf ears
The morning of their departure was a flurry of rushed movements and strained goodbyes. Her adopted parents fussed over their son, their faces beaming with an almost theatrical excitement. "Make sure you study hard!" her adopted mother told her, her voice carrying a false enthusiasm.
"Grandma Jane will be here tomorrow morning to pick you up and you will be starting school on Monday be nice to your grandma "Greg told her
All the neighbors came out to bid them farewell they have been aware of their departure for some time now, but when they knew Blessed was not going with them they felt sorry for her
Maria offered a quick, perfunctory pat on the head. "Be a good girl, Blessed. We'll be in touch."
"Mom hurry so we won't miss the flight "Liam said purposely so their neighbors would know they were no longer in the same level
The taxi arrived shortly they quickly entered and they pulled away, Blessed stood by the side of the road, clutching her cloth, tears flowed freely down her cheeks, a dawning sense of abandonment tightening in her chest she felt all alone. The forced smiles and the overly cheerful pronouncements of neighbors echoed in her ears, leaving behind a hollow silence that spoke volumes of the unspoken lies. She watched the red taxi disappear down the road, unaware of the signed document that had sealed her fate and the stolen rewards that should have paved her way to a new life. When will she be ever happy.